Wilsonian recognized as advocate for local broadband

Greenlight Community Broadband General Manager Will Aycock received an award from The Coalition for Local Internet Choice President Jim Baller recently.

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Posted
Sunday, May 13, 2018 10:00 pm

By Brie Handgraaf

bhandgraaf@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7821

Ten years after Wilson implemented Greenlight Community Broadband, the general manager was recognized by The Coalition for Local Internet Choice.

Will Aycock, who has worked for the city for 17 years and served as general manager for six, was among eight honorees for contributions to preserve and protect local decision-making with regard to broadband infrastructure. Aycock was named the 2018 Local Internet Choice Local Champion Award for “visionary leadership in bringing advanced communications services and capabilities to the businesses, institutions and residents of not only his own community, but to neighboring communities as well.”

“Will has shown unwavering local leadership and has served as a mentor and guide for numerous communities throughout North Carolina and the country,” Coalition for Local Internet Choice President Jim Baller said. “Communities across the United States have turned to Will for guidance in courage, teamwork and the way forward for obtaining access to modern broadband infrastructure.”

Under Aycock’s leadership, Greenlight has averaged 8 percent annual growth for the past five years, and growth in the current fiscal year has outpaced the average. Meanwhile Aycock and Greenlight staff have provided support to officials in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Goldsboro, Kinston and Holly Springs.

Wilson became the state’s first Gigabit City in 2013 when Greenlight responded to a challenge by the Federal Communications Commission to provide gig residential service. And a recent change to the commercial rate structure has drawn more small office and home office customers.

“Although I am honored to receive this award, I think the real recognition should go to our elected officials and city administration who led us to create this network, to our employees who work every day to make Greenlight a success, and most importantly to our customers who support the network,” Aycock said.

For more information about Greenlight, visit www.wilsonnc.org/greenlight/.